Real-Time Technology Solutions Accelerate Site Investigations

Lansing, MI, United States
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The investigation of three former automotive plants, which included 65 areas of interest on 250 acres, was completed within 18 months using Smart characterization methods to accelerate the process.

65

AREAS OF INTEREST INVESTIGATED WITHIN TWO YEARS

8 Years

saved by avoiding typical RCRA investigation

Three former automotive manufacturing facilities in Lansing, Michigan, required immediate investigation to determine whether soil and groundwater contamination on 250 acres of land posed a significant risk to the community’s drinking water supply. Because of an agreement with the township to expedite the final decommissioning process, the client required a completed site investigation within 18 months.

Arcadis applied Smart characterization methods to meet the expedited deadline. This included real-time data analysis, high-resolution technology and 3D visualization to help focus on the areas that posed the greatest potential risk to the community. This approach helped us to quickly develop and refine a flux-based conceptual site model that was critical in demonstrating key milestones to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and project stakeholders.

Smart characterization increases certainty of success.

After discovering 65 areas of interest, we found that most of the soil and groundwater impacts were isolated, immobile and posed minimal threat to the community’s drinking water. However, the investigation did uncover a 1,4-dioxane plume that posed a potential risk to the aquifer and required further monitoring by the team to determine an appropriate remediation strategy.

By using Smart characterization on the site, we reduced the typical investigation timeframe by an estimated eight years for the client.